Nintendo is taking time on the 3DS console's first birthday to mention that it sold almost twice as many units of the 3DS in the first year than it did the DS in its first year.

“Nintendo 3DS closes its first year with a lengthy list of accomplishments, but we’re still just scratching the surface,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “With a massive lineup of first- and third-party games and more on the way, a budding library of entertainment options and an engaged and growing installed base, Nintendo 3DS has an incredibly bright future. We’re just getting started but this platform is built for the long haul.”

The 3DS launched on March 27, 2011, so we are still a few weeks from its official birthday. Nintendo gives some of the credit for improved sales compared to the DS console to the 3DS games and other software that launched. Those games include big titles such as Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 along with the inclusion of Netflix and the ability to record 3D movies.

Nintendo reports that in the first year the DS was available it sold 2.3 million units. The 3DS sold 4.5 million units in its first year. Total software units sold in the first year for the DS was 5 million compared over 9 million for the 3DS. Total sales, including hardware, software, and accessories for the DS over the first year was $540 million compared to $1.2 billion for the 3DS. Nintendo says that the 3DS reached 4 million units by December 2011, passing the pace set by the Wii.

Despite the success of the 3DS compared to the DS, the 3DS is still being challenged in the market.